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Specialist in Asia Pacific, Japan, China, India and South East Asia and Global Emerging Market equities.

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formerly Realindex Investments

Leader in active quantitative equities across Australian equities, global equities, emerging markets and global small companies.

Backed by a unique blend of research, portfolio construction and risk management, focused on uncovering original insights and translating them into investment strategies that are active and systematic, aiming to generate alpha.

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At Stewart Investors, we believe in putting people first. Our investment world-view is of a series of partnerships – with each other, with our clients, with the companies we invest in, the people who buy their goods and services, and with the wider society in which we all live and work.

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Five sectors set to drive global listed infrastructure returns

In an environment of uncertainty, infrastructure investments can provide investors with a sense of reassurance. Regardless of short-term market ‘noise’, every nation depends on roads, utilities, airports, railways, pipelines and wireless towers, in order to function effectively. 

These sectors share common characteristics, like barriers to entry and pricing power, which provides investors with the potential for inflation-protected income and strong capital growth over the medium-term.

Even as the world grapples with the complexities of the pandemic re-opening, we believe the outlook for the asset class is positive.

The First Sentier Global Listed Infrastructure Fund invests in a diverse range of assets across a number of regions. However, we see particularly strong opportunities for several infrastructure asset types.

1. Toll roads have shown resilience

Toll roads represent the portfolio’s largest sector overweight, with positions in European, Asia Pacific and Latin American operators. We believe these companies represent exceptional value at current levels, with traffic volumes proving significantly more resilient than those of other transport infrastructure assets. Even where new coronavirus variants have clouded the near term outlook, we remain confident that toll roads will return to normal demand levels as economic activity levels pick up.

2. Gas utilities key to decarbonisation

We believe gas has an important role to play in the years ahead as economies transition to lower-carbon energy sources. The portfolio’s holdings in this sector consist of a Chinese operator benefitting from central government support for the country’s transition away from coal; a defensive Japanese gas utility trading at an attractive price; and specialist US and European names operating from strong strategic positions within niche markets.

3. Water & waste are essential services

Our exposure to these assets consists of stable, income-generating UK and US-listed water utilities, which derive regulated earnings by providing essential services. The pressing need for investment to replace and repair aging water pipe networks in the US represents an additional source of long-term earnings growth. The portfolio has also built a position in a large US waste management company, which stands to benefit from higher waste volumes as the US economy continues to improve.

4. Data centres & mobile towers positioned for growth

As the world becomes ever more digital, operators in these sectors can provide predictable cashflows, underpinned by multi-year contracts with enterprise customers.  Further earnings growth is anticipated as telecom operators ready themselves to deploy 5G equipment onto tower sites at scale.

5. Electric / multi-utilities are ready for renewal

A substantial portion of the portfolio consists of high conviction utility holdings. The portfolio’s focus is on companies with the scope to derive steady, low risk earnings growth from replacing ageing distribution networks; upgrading substations and expanding transmission lines; and the replacement of older coal-fired power stations with wind farms and solar power.

With a consistent focus on identifying quality assets that operate in essential, in-demand sectors, we believe our portfolio is well-positioned to provide investors with sustainable inflation-protected income and capital growth. 

Important Information

This material has been prepared and issued by First Sentier Investors (Australia) IM Ltd (ABN 89 114 194 311, AFSL 289017) (FSI AIM), which forms part of First Sentier Investors, a global asset management business. First Sentier Investors is ultimately owned by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc (MUFG), a global financial group. A copy of the Financial Services Guide for FSI AIM is available from First Sentier Investors on its website.

This material contains general information only. It is not intended to provide you with financial product advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should consider, with a financial advisor, whether this information is appropriate in light of your investment needs, objectives and financial situation. The product disclosure statement (PDS) or Information Memorandum (IM) (as applicable) for the First Sentier Global Listed Infrastructure Fund and ARSN 157 876 134 (Fund), issued by Colonial First State Investments Limited (ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232468) (CFSIL), should be considered before deciding whether to acquire or hold units in the Fund(s). The PDS or IM are available from First Sentier Investors. The target market determination (TMD) is available from First Sentier Investors on its website and should be considered by you before any investment decision to ensure that you form part of the target market.

MUFG, FSI AIM, their respective affiliates and any service provider to the Fund do not guarantee the performance of the Fund or the repayment of capital by the Fund. Investments in the Fund are not deposits or other liabilities of MUFG, FSI AIM, their respective affiliates or any service providers to the Fund and investment-type products are subject to investment risk including loss of income and capital invested.

Any opinions expressed in this material are the opinions of the individual author at the time of publication only and are subject to change without notice. Such opinions: (i) are not a recommendation to hold, purchase or sell a particular financial product; (ii) may not include all of the information needed to make an investment decision in relation to such a financial product; and (iii) may substantially differ from other individual authors within First Sentier Investors.

To the extent permitted by law, no liability is accepted by MUFG, FSI AIM nor their affiliates for any loss or damage as a result of any reliance on this material. This material contains, or is based upon, information that FSI AIM believes to be accurate and reliable, however neither MUFG, FSI AIM nor their respective affiliates offer any warranty that it contains no factual errors. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of FSI AIM.

Any performance information has been calculated using exit prices after taking into account all ongoing fees and assuming reinvestment of distributions. No allowance has been made for taxation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

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